No place plays a more important role in the modern history of Thailand than Rajadamnoen Avenue. Rajadamnoen Avenue was built by King Rama V to link his old residence, the Grand Palace, with his new royal palace in nearby Dusit. Anxious to build on Rama V’s dream of creating a Siamese version of Paris’ Champs-Elysees, Field Marshall Pibul Songkram knocked down the mahogany trees to make Rajadamnoen even larger and wider. The avenue is now lined by broad sidewalks and park benches. Rajadamnoen still serves as a royal passage; if you stand here long enough you just might see the King pass by in his yellow Rolls Royce limousine.